The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-08-07
LET UTAH BUILD IT.

1t is impressing itself upon the peo-
pie heresbouts that the Union Pacific
is net going to do anything in the
matter Of constructing a railway by a
southern route to the Pacific. The case
is assuming the characteristics OF an
Ogden Union depot affair. Mr.. Adams
says frankly that with his consent
nothing will be done in the direction
indicated so long IS government is
worrying and bounding the company.
There is not the least likelihood that
the government will desist for these
many years to come. Hammering
away at the subsidized railroads is too
much amusement for politicians who
are trying to build up regulations for
honesty by charging others with dis
honesty. We may expect the howlers to
howl until they bankrupt the company,
or until government has been forced to
do the very foolish thing of foreclosing
the mortgage and taking the road. Nor
is it at all probable that Mr.. Adams will
be retired from the presidency of the
Union Pacific while he desires to oc-
cupy the position. He is where he is
because Fred. L. Ames. probably the
largest individual stakeholder in the
company, and his Boston associates
want him there. They are in absolute
control of the company, and Adams is
the careful, conservative man they want
to manage its affairs. Another thing |
which interferes with the construction |
of the proposed road, is the existence
of the Oregon Short Line, which |
gives the company on outlet to the
Pacific, though proftless one. It is
observed that everything possible is !
being done to boom the Short Line, and |
turn business in its direction. A
southern route would naturally enlarge
the proportions OF that troublesome
white elephant, by reducing it to the
condition of local road through a |
country which could not begin to sup
port it.
Everything suggests the improbabiIity |
Of the Union Pacific building south
west, at least for some years to come.
Utah wants the road now; she is not in
. condition to wait. Salt Lake needs
theroad. She not only needs the bust
ness which would necessarily come
were the line in operation, but she
needs another road to the Pacific
to give her independence and start
her on the road to prosperity. The
question arises, is this Territory able to
build the road2 We believe it is; not
that the Territory has the money re-
CURED for the successful, carrying
through of the undertaking, but that
our capitalists, our business men and |
our railroad builders have enough with |
which to make good start, and having |
begun they will be able to obtain the as
sistance to carry them through. The
country has been sufficiently explored |
to demonstrate that it will maintain |
and make profitable a railroad from |
Salt Lake to the Pacific Ocean. The
territory to be traversed is Astounding |
in resources which will be promptly de-
veioped the moment a railroad gets
within reach, but which cannot be util- |
liGed without a railroad.
The matter is one demanding the
earnest and intelligent consideration of
the progressive people here. We are
confident if they will take hold OF the
business they will succeed, and are
equally confident that the project will
prove profitable one not only to the |
investors but to Utah as a community.
The scheme should also be considered
in another light, which is this: Would |
it not be batter for all concerned if Utah
and not the Union Pacific, were to own
and control the proposed road9